Schmidt and Giscard D’Estaing: A Meeting of the Minds

Every summer the political leaders of the G-7 countries meet. (The term “G-7” refers to the most industrialized countries in the world–the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.) One of the countries hosts each year’s meeting at a location within its borders. In 2005, Prime Minister Tony Blair hosted the session in Scotland.

The purpose of the meeting is for leaders to discuss issues of concern to them and their countries. Ever since the fall of the Soviet Unioin, they have invited Russia to join them (even though it hardly rates as a truly industrialized country, and definitely not at the top of the ranks of such countries). But given its geographical size and its status as the leading nation within the defunct Soviet Union, G-7 leaders chose to include it in the annual gatherings.

Unfortunately these annual events have moved far afield of their original intent and purpose. A quick review of history shows that they actually came into being during the 1980s when Valery Giscard d’Estaing headed the French government and Helmut Schmidt was head of the government of West Germany. Historically, France and German had been at odds with each other, especially so following WWI and WWII. Thus, in an effort to minimize tensions between the two countries, as well as to strengthen the movement towards the integration of economies on the European continent, the two political leaders decided to meet annually to discuss issues of concern to them.

It’s important to note that this was a form of summit diplomacy. In other words, it involved the highest ranking political leader of each of the two countries. Further, it allowed for them to interact directly with each other. This is a major consideration. Having an opportunity to get to know someone personally, to become familiar with the factors which have shaped his political outlook and thinking, and to hear his direct observations about what is taking place within his country and society can be extraordinarliy helpful in working to resolve problems between two countries.

In a nutshell, that is exactly what Schmidt and d’Estaing attempted to do. They were able to appreciate the problems each faced in governing at home and the limits within which they had to operate on the internationall stage. Facilitating this exchange of ideas and knowledge was the fact that they could communicate directly with each other. Schmidt spoke French and d’Estaing could converse in German. Thus, without needing the assistance of interpreters and translators, they could more easily come to a meeting of the minds on various issues.

Unfortunately, today’s annual gatherings are no longer such simple, productive sessions. Increasingly, they appear to be staged events for symbolic purposes which attract protesters and produce few, if any, results of truly practical value for participants.